Rajon Rondo continued to set the league pace in assists, Gorgui Dieng averaged a double-double, Francisco Garcia was sidelined by injury and Russ Smith was sent back to the NBDL.
Here’s a closer look at how Rondo and the trio of University of Louisville products on NBA rosters did in the seventh week of the season.
Rondo (Boston Celtics): The Louisville native, former University of Kentucky standout point guard and ninth-year pro averaged 6.7 points, seven rebounds and 10.7 assists in three games for the Celtics. However, his name continues to come up in trade rumors.
This past Friday night Rondo (pictured above) tallied two points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in Boston’s 101-95 loss to the visiting New York Knicks. He was 1 for 3 from the field, including 0 of 1 from 3-point range, and also had one steal and two turnovers in 32 minutes.
Then Monday night he had five points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the Celtics’ 105-87 win at Philadelphia. He was 2 for 3 from the field and 1 of 2 from the foul line while also recording four steals and two turnovers in 24 minutes.
Two nights later Rondo had 13 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds in Boston’s 109-92 win over visiting Orlando. He was 6 for 12 from the field, including 1 of 3 from 3-point range, while also tallying two steals and committing six turnovers in 33 minutes.
For the season Rondo is averaging 8.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and a league-leading 10.8 assists per game for the Celtics (9-14).
Dieng (Minnesota Timberwolves): The second-year center from UofL is coming off another productive week (averaging 10.6 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in three games) for Minnesota.
In Friday night’s 111-92 loss to visiting Oklahoma City, Dieng tallied 11 points, nine rebounds, four blocked shots and four assists. He was 4 for 5 from the field, but 3 of 8 from the free throw line, and also had two steals and one turnover in 37 minutes.
Then in Sunday’s 100-94 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, he had nine points, nine rebounds, two blocked shots and two assists. He was 4 of 9 from the field and 1 for 3 from the free throw line while also tallying one steal and two turnovers in 36 minutes.
Two days later Dieng tallied 12 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots in the Timberwolves’ 109-95 loss at Washington. He was 3 for 8 from the field and 6 of 8 from the free throw line, three blocks and one assist in 37 minutes.
Dieng is averaging 8.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and two assists per game for Minnesota (5-19).
Garcia (Houston Rockets): The 10th year swingman from UofL didn’t play in Houston’s three games, all of which the Rockets won.
Garcia was inactive for Houston’s 113-109 overtime win at Sacramento on Thursday night and its 108-96 win over visiting Denver on Saturday due to an ankle injury. Then he was active, but got a “DNP Coach’s Decision” in the Rockets’ 115-111 win at Denver on Wednesday night.
Garcia is averaging 3.2 points per game for the Rockets (19-5).
Smith (New Orleans Pelicans): The rookie guard from UofL didn’t see the court this week for the Pelicans, as he was sent back to the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Mad Ants of the NBA Development League.
After New Orleans assigned him to his second stint with the Mad Ants, Smith averaged 17.5 points in a pair of games for Fort Wayne.
Smith has gone scoreless with one rebound in three appearances with the Pelicans (12-12) this season.
Photo courtesy Rajon Rondo's Facebook Page
